Survival Queen of the Frozen Wastes novel Chapter 6

Back inside the cozy wooden cabin, Riley placed her hand on the mysterious gift box that pulsed with a faint purple light.

"Open."

At her mental command, the lid slowly lifted in a soft glow. Lines of item information scrolled across her vision.

"Acquired: Wood x30

"Acquired: Stone x20

"Acquired: Coal x5

"Acquired: Scrap Steel x5"

The sudden influx of basic materials couldn't have come at a better time. Upgrading the shelter had practically drained her reserves, so this little boost was a relief.

Next came the food.

"Acquired: Beef Stew MRE x5"

"No way. This stuff?"

Riley's eyes lit up as she held the few compact boxes of Beef Stew MRE in her hands.

Back before she'd ended up in this frozen world, she wouldn't have touched this kind of pre-packaged meal with its weird, plasticky rice texture. But after two days of chewing on stale hardtack and washing it down with ice-cold water? This might as well have been a five-star dining experience.

Hot, fluffy rice smothered in rich, savory meat sauce... Just thinking about it made her mouth water.

"Guess I'm eating well tonight." Riley grinned and tucked them away safely.

But the rewards kept coming.

"Acquired: Coarse Cotton Cloth x5

"Acquired: Refined Kerosene x3

"Acquired: Frost Token x100"

The cloth and kerosene were clearly meant for crafting—exactly what she needed for that blueprint she'd picked up earlier. As for the Frost Tokens, the system didn't offer any explanation. Riley turned the ice-blue coin over in her palm, studying the delicate snowflake engraved on its surface. It felt cool to the touch.

"Probably for some kind of shop later," she muttered. "Or maybe trading with special NPCs down the line."

Finally, the last item appeared—a piece of gear with a faint green shimmer.

"Acquired: Pioneer's Wristguard (Uncommon)

"Slot: Wrist

"Attribute: Strength +3

"Special Effect: Lumberjack's Proficiency (20% increased logging efficiency, 10% reduced stamina consumption while using axes)

"Flavor Text: A reward for the first survivor bold enough to brave the blizzard. Real power isn't just about guts—it helps to have arms like a gorilla."

"Equip."

Riley slipped the leather bracer onto her right wrist without hesitation. Despite its rugged appearance, the inside was surprisingly soft and comfortable. The moment it was on, a gentle warmth spread from her wrist through her entire body.

She pulled up her character stats immediately.

"Strength: 11(Average adult female baseline is 6-7. You're officially stronger than most now.)"

Riley clenched her fist, knuckles cracking sharply. There was no sudden bulk in her muscles, but she could feel the raw power humming beneath her skin—and it was real.

Even more surprising, the dull ache and stiffness in her overworked arms and shoulders seemed to melt away the second she put the wristguard on.

"Whoa—"

She threw a couple of experimental punches. The air actually whistled as her fists cut through it.

"If that so-called InvincibleWarrior punk showed up in front of me now..." Riley smirked. "I'd use him as a heavy bag."

After sorting through her haul, Riley checked her inventory.

Sixteen slots. Nearly full. Wood, stone, food, water, tools—each category ate up a slot. Sure, stackable items like wood could pile up to 999, but having this many different types was already getting cramped.

"Gonna need to figure out how to expand this inventory soon. Or at least build some storage crates."

For now, she moved the less urgent materials—coal and scrap steel—back into the big wooden crate outside the cabin to free up space.

Then she walked over to the upgraded campfire to check out its new stats.

One look, and she nearly choked.

"Campfire (Lv.2)

"Status: Burning

"Current Consumption: Wood x2 per hour (or Coal x0.2 per hour)"

"Remaining Fuel: 18:00:00

"You've got to be kidding me." Riley stared at the screen, jaw tight. "Why'd the price jump?"

The level one campfire had only burned one piece of wood per hour. After one single upgrade, the consumption rate had doubled.

If only she'd stuffed all her wood into it before upgrading—it would've counted at the lower rate and lasted way longer.

Need it for what?

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